Toyota Ractis 2007 Steering Column [5047140] on 2040-parts.com

Watch the Official Cars 2 trailer, version 3

Disney Pixar has given us a third sneak-peek at the upcoming Cars 2 movie. Lighting McQueen, Tow Mater, Sally and the gang this time battle spies, international conspiracies and a host of new bad guys as they hit the circuit. Cars 2 will open June 24, 2011, and AutoWeek will be bringing you all the latest from the Disney Pixar crew leading up to the release.

Volvo makes breakthrough in battery tech

Volvo has developed a new way of ‘storing’ energy for its future electric vehicles. The Swedish firm is exploring the concept of lightweight structural energy storage components made from carbonfibre, containing “nano structured batteries and super capacitors.” This technology is said to offer a lighter, more compact solution to the problem of energy storage, potentially removing the need for the heavy, bulky batteries used in current electric vehicles. On Bing: see pictures of the Volvo S80 Find out how much a used Volvo S80 costs on Auto Trader The investigation into the new technology is part of an EU-funded research project, undertaken by Volvo – the only major car manufacturer involved – and nine other organisations.

BMW 328 Hommage (2011) revealed at Villa d'Este

This is the BMW 328 Hommage, a concept car which made its debut at the 2011 Villa d'Este Concours. The BMW 328 Hommage has been created to celebrate the 75th anniversary of BMW's 328 sports car, which was one of the featured classic cars at the Villa d'Este Concours.  BMW 328 Hommage: Where have I seen that shape before? I assume you're talking about the general shape of the car, rather than the buck-toothed rabbit look of the front-end graphic. While the BMW 328 Hommage is festooned with modern reinterpretations of such classic 328 competition car hallmarks as leather bonnet straps, bodyside recesses in lieu of doors, aero screens, and 'pepper-pot' alloy wheels, the overall shape has more in common with BMW's 2011 Geneva show car, the Vision Connected Drive.  The 328 Hommage is a far less direct descendant of the original BMW 328 than the M1 Hommage was to the original M1, or the 2006 BMW Mille Miglia Concept was to the original 328 Mille Miglia coupe.  BMW 328 Hommage: High-tech meets olde-worlde BMW is using the 328 Hommage as the latest demonstration of its research into carbonfibre construction.